Nashoba's Gjeltema earns Leaders Scholarship

Nashoba Regional field hockey star Samantha Gjeltema is among six student-athletes to be named Bay State Games 2013 Future Leaders Scholarship recipients.

The Stow resident and her fellow honorees will each receive a $2,000 scholarship for their leadership on and off the playing field. After a rigorous application process, the six winners were chosen to be future leaders with outstanding credentials in academics, athletics, community service and leadership.

Gjeltema, who is about to enter her senior year at Nashoba, received high praise from the awards committee.

"A student-athlete in the truest sense of the word, this individual has excelled in the classroom and has made every effort to expand her knowledge through her involvement with academics, athletics and a multitude of community service experiences," stated a press release announcing the award. "Recognition of her academic ability was her induction into the Nashoba Regional National Honor Society. Of particular importance to this Stow native has been her involvement with the Best Buddies program, where traditional students are paired with intellectually and developmentally disabled students to foster social opportunities. As an athlete she is diligent in her preparation for her sport, on and off the field, and also has gone out of her way to support her fellow athletes.